16 quotes
'Tis the hardest thing in the world to be a good Thinker, without being a strong Self-Examiner.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be governed by it, and can only please by its resemblance.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
How comes it to pass then, that we appear such Cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the Test of Ridicule?
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
Through certain humors or passions, and from temper merely, a man may be completely miserable, let his outward circumstances be ever so fortunate.
Day's Collacon : An Encyclopaedia of Prose Quotations (1884)
Men's first thoughts in this matter are generally better than their second; their natural notions better than those refin'd by study, or consultation with casuists.
Gravity is of the very Essence of Imposture. It does not only make us mistake other Things, but is apt perpetually almost to mistake it-self.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
'Tis not Wit merely, but a Temper which must form the Well-Bred Man. In the same manner, 'tis not a Head merely, but a Heart and Resolution which must compleat the real Philosopher.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
A Right Mind, and Generous Affection, [has] more Beauty and Charm, than all other Symmetrys in the World besides.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
Truth, 'tis supposed, may bear all lights; and one of those principal lights or natural mediums by which things are to be viewed in order to a thorough recognition is ridicule itself.
'Twas the saying of an ancient sage that humour was the only test of gravity, and gravity of humour. For a subject which would not bear raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious examination was certainly false wit.
All Politeness is owing to Liberty. We polish one another, and rub off our Corners and rough Sides by a sort of amicable Collision. To restrain this, is inevitably to bring a Rust upon Mens Understandings.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
The most natural Beauty in the World is Honesty, and Moral Truth. For all Beauty is Truth. True Features make the Beauty of a Face; and true Proportions the Beauty of Architecture; as true Measures that of Harmony and Musick.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
Never did any Soul do good, but it came readier to do the same again, with more Enjoyment. Never was Love, or Gratitude, or Bounty practis'd but with increasing Joy, which made the Practiser still more in love with the fair Act.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
We may have an excellent Ear in Musick, without being able to perform in any kind. We may judg well of Poetry, without being Poets, or possessing the least of a Poetick Vein: But we can have no tolerable Notion of Goodness, without being tolerably good.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
The Taste of Beauty, and the Relish of what is decent, just, and amiable, perfects the Character of the Gentleman, and the Philosopher. And the Study of such a Taste or Relish will, as we suppose, be ever the great Employment and Concern of him, who covets as well to be wise and good, as agreeable and polite.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)
Truth, 'tis suppos'd, may bear all Lights: and one of those principal Lights or natural Mediums, by which Things are to be view'd, in order to a thorow Recognition, is Ridicule it-self, or that Manner of Proof by which we discern whatever is liable to just Raillery in any Subject.
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)